Priceline, Expedia and OTA emerging in the Online Travel Market

Travel industries has become one of the most competitive. And now a days everyone enjoys accessing large number of options to book trips and accommodations. Mobile apps for flight and hotel booking have become major concern for the traditional travel agents for a while now.

Alike Airbnb, online bookings are increasing through websites and mobile apps. Even, airlines, hotel chains and car rental brands have been developing their own websites and apps. For boosting their brand, loyalty programs are conducted where they try to convince customers that have no reason to use OTA search engine to find the best deal.

This becomes obvious for the travel agencies difficult to survive! Having website is not the solution. Expedia, Booking.com, Priceline and many others are the rising competitors and launching a new travel app means to go against them. To stay in this fierce competition, travel agencies must be something different.

Let’s have a look how popular travel brands operate and provide recommendations for the agents who wants to navigate into online world.

Source inventory of Expedia and Priceline

Companies like Expedia and Priceline source their inventory by negotiating directly with the hotels and using GDS (global distribution systems) to book hotel reservations, cruises, air tickets, car rentals, different attractions and services. GDS systems is expensive to access, and so travel agencies generally do not prefer inventory if they can avoid. 

How do online travel agencies make money?

Online travel agencies uses these business models, to monetize their products.

Agency business model: OTA acts as a middleman between industry operators and customers, making commission on each transaction. Expedia's rates for commission ranges from 20 to 25%. 

Merchant business model: In this model, OTA is the merchant. Bookings are done on the company's own website or mobile app. To use this model, online agency buys large number of hotels at wholesale rates and then markets rooms to travellers according to the agency's rate. Priceline sells hotel reservations according to this model, whereas Expedia totally relies on the merchant model, that offers higher margins.

Advertising business model: Priceline earns 0.3% of its revenue from advertising fees. Moreover, TripAdvisor is driven by advertising. For small travel agents seeking for travel apps or websites, advertising model is the most affordable. Alternatively, you can even use the existing infrastructure to build new services and earn money along with them. Many travel agencies make money on flights and hotels charging cost-per-click to OTA and supplier websites.

Differentiate your Product offerings

1. Go Mobile

Recent survey by Euromonitor International stated that, the travel industry will have highest percentage of mobile bookings of any retail industry by 2020. Since then, the market for travel apps will as competitive as for the web, it can be recommended to initiate your application with by targeting your existing customers. Your travel app can greatly increase your customer loyalty.

2.  Get into new and niche Markets

Rather than targeting undeserved geographical area, travel agencies that do not wish to be endangered species can differentiate by catering the niche market. Some of the areas where agents are still succeeding included luxury and business niche where travellers value personal relationships and expertise over cost savings.

Moreover, you can also choose a niche to target based on interests like adventure, spirituality, history, extreme sports etc. You can also select based on demographics, special events as in olympics, rock concerts, festivals or even you can choose themes like camping, city breaks, wellness, family or luxury. 

3. Technology to improvise Customer service

Expedia and Priceline care to the mass market, that consists of young people and are used to get instant information on the web and booking trips on their own. 

If you are start up, that audience you attract is not same as the one like Expedia target. While online travel agencies have wide range of options, they do not offer customer services that is actually expected. Customer service is what traditional agencies are so good at!

Traditional agents search for flights and accommodations for their customers. Moreover, a traditional agency plans the entire trip without any awareness of their client. And if there are any concerns during or after the trip, travel agents are always ready to help. These advantages can be improved with the help of technology. And the agents who embrace technology to improve the client experience, it is obvious for their survival.  

If you want to know more about your travel app, feel free to contact us!

Glimpse on Latest Laravel Update – 5.4

Laravel was considered as the top rated PHP framework in 2016 and the trend of Laravel is yet to stay this year because of its latest release of Laravel 5.4. Alike previous versions i.e Laravel 5.3, this version also comes with new and improved features that include support of Laravel Dusk, markdown and the improvements in Redis clustering.

With the introduction of the Laravel 5.4, many new features were introduced. Let’s have a brief idea about it.

Laravel Dusk

Laravel Dusk is an overall a browser testing tool for JavaScript enabled applications i.e button and link clicks within an application. It utilizes ChromeDriver and Facebook Php-web driver. It works with the Selenium browser, but it arrives with ChromeDriver by default that saves you from installing JDK or Selenium. The main advantage is that Dusk provides handy helper methods like loginAs that allow giving a user instance.

Real Time Facades

In Laravel 5.4, easily converts your application class into a facade. Unlike the previous version, there is no need to create your own facades, the new update can do it on-demand for you to get rid of countless onlookers.

Markdown Mail & Notification

Laravel 5.4 arrives with pre-built markdown templates and components for mail and notifications. This helps developers to generate responsive HTML emails. When you send email, you can integrate Markdown with Blade components to provide maximum flexibility.

Laravel Mix

Elixir API is now followed by Laravel Mix. It is introduced first time in the updates of Laravel. Though both versions are continued to exist, Mix is recommended to be build tool wrapper of choice. It is developed in Webpack and offers nearly exact same friendly API that you’re already used to.

Redis Cluster Support

Now you can get rid of clustering the single host in the same application. In the latest update, you can now define Redis connections to a number of single hosts and multiple clusters within the same application.

Collections Support Higher Order Messages

Collections in the latest update provide short-cuts or you can say “higher order messages” to perform common actions on them. Moreover, Laravel 5.4 has introduced a host of features that provides the ease of application development using the framework.

Blade Components and Slots

Blade components and slots are quite similar to sections and layouts but they are more easy and flexible way to create templates. If you are known to Vue.js then this provides pretty much same.

Changelog

Among the different features and improvements in the release of Laravel 5.4, special attention is given for:

– NEW TRIMSTRINGS AND CONVERTEMPTYSTRINGSTONULL MIDDLEWARE

– “REAL-TIME” FACADES

– CUSTOM PIVOT TABLE MODELS

– JSON BASED LANGUAGE FILES

– OBJECT BASED ELOQUENT EVENTS

– JOB LEVEL RETRY & TIMEOUT

You can find the complete changelog here

https://github.com/laravel/framework/blob/5.4/CHANGELOG-5.4.md

Conclusion

Laravel 5.4 has come up with many exciting features, along with the improvements in existing features. I had briefly marked some of the necessary features. If you have any queries or questions, reach us.

Enterprise Mobility Clinching the future of Business

Enterprise mobility has become the major topic of interest for organizations in the current trend. 71% of enterprises believe mobility as a top priority. IDC research says that the US mobile worker population may strike to 105.4 million by 2020. This widespread adoption of enterprise mobility solution is no surprise and considering in terms of productivity, employee gain 240 hours in a year on average, if enterprise mobility solutions used work.  This states clearly that the mobile space is poised for growth. CEO at Alphabet stated that

“We are no longer in a mobile-first world; we are in a mobile-only world”

New paradigms are emerging daily, and there is no standard way to apply or rule the technologies. Success need a lot of trailblazing, adopting latest trends and even we face hassles in facing the challenges. The key feature of enterprise mobility is agility and adaptability. These terms are given to the employees working from the home when they are not present in the office. This reduces the need of traditional office spaces. And thus enterprise mobility is the future of the workplace. 

Here is how the trends impact the trends deeply in the enterprise development.

Everything on Mobile

In an IDC research, it was found that the consumer facing apps are expected to be built with the mobile first in 2017. This states clearly that mobile impacts the businesses in a major way, that is somewhat surprising for the market leaders.

In order to stay ahead of competition in the market, you may likely have a choice but initiate rolling out with the mobile applications with this upcoming year - if you have not started.

Security comes Foremost

Since employees are going mobile, businesses place more importance in improving their IT infrastructure. Additionally, they add safety measures in the place to make sure that their data is secure. Safeguarding the information continue to be a prior especially as enterprises are moving closer to the mobile working environment that can be accessed anywhere in the cloud. Best practices for securing the information can be employed to secure against any theft. 

Mobile Computing ranks First 

Since mobile devices have become a tool for businesses to operate in the modern marketplace. This states clearly that more data can be incepted into the cloud and more applications can be designed for the portable usage patterns. Moreover more development efforts like UI, UX can be considered appropriate for the smaller screen, like those found in smartphones and tablets. Developers can also be urged to place more effort in the designing tools and utilities that allows seamless transition between the devices as this allows the working professionals to jump quickly from working one device to another on move.

IoT grows

In this connected world, the influx of data needs to be filtered, analyzed and acted upon the workforce that can be armed with the enterprise mobility tools and mobile applications. This clears that the scenario needs developers to develop analytics tools, CRM programs and alike mobile applications that can be build for the use of mobile formats. By providing the mobile workforce with the modern software designed to maximize the insights that the data provides, enterprises can be truly able to tap the potential.

Increase in Speed and Agility

Many global market leaders are facing the challenges to keep up with the rapidly changing markets and trends. One way to adapt the current mobile landscape is to take the benefit of the tools and techniques and enterprise mobility solutions at their disposal.

Summing up all, more businesses are aiming to develop powerful tools for enterprise mobility that can be rolled out easily and adapted to fit rapidly in shifting market conditions. This includes simple and plug and play solutions that even employees who are not technically inclined can easily edit and repurpose to serve different tasks. Moving forward, flexibility can be the key for the mobile enterprises.

Alike Uber, How Limo companies are going on mobile

Limousine company holders are taking considerable strokes during the most current boom. Many companies having held onto traditional business models have failed. Yet, there are others that are able to grow by adapting the changes in the market.

Competing with Uber, Limo have successfully made the strategic changes to their business models by compromising with the pricing strategies and other policies. Other transportation networks have differentiated themselves by targeting niche markets, shopping excursions or even offering discounted shuttle services just for the sake of sustaining revenue.

The most obvious reason limo companies can stay ahead is by developing limo rental app that do offer many conveniences that its competitors and Uber offer. Uber and other competitors have more vehicles on the road, they offer quicker pickups than traditional transportation providers. Still, Limo companies have competitive edge when it comes to offer ascertain experience and higher level of safety. They are wise to invest in mobile apps. 

There are many app development firms having specialization in transportation industry that help car operators to develop functional apps. If you are owning a Limousine company, these are some of the options that helps to provide viable solutions to increase company’s ability for competing in the increasingly-competitive market.

The Limo App

The Limo App is a specialized app solution for the industry that combines features like travel history, time/calendar selections along with the options like app simply for the drivers to text clients. Even you can collect the feedback of the driver for valuable market research to improve overall customer experience. The application offers different app level monthly subscriptions, from starter to pro to meet the requirements of both small and large companies.

Limo Anywhere

Being the top rated solution provider in transportation, Limo Anywhere offers a wide variety of mobile solutions that includes apps for both passenger and driver. Even, they have an affiliate network, payment solutions, booking and dispatch software and even website templates.

Limo Labs

Limo Labs is an option for those who need the complete assistance of the service agency. The provider develops apps for iPhone and Android with all the required bells like reservations, account set up, location pick up, live routes and even saved routes. Moreover, they even provide traditional agency services that includes search engine optimization.

App Press

App Press is an option for those who want to tackle app development on their own. The solution uses a drag and drop format to enable users to create apps that are not bound by any rigid templates. Moreover, the team can also help to build APIs to create custom mobile solutions like unique login forms and personalized notifications. 

Dashride

Dashride offers ride sharing platform for independent limousine and transportation providers. The company has open platform that offers automated dispatching, billing and invoicing, website integration and analytics and customization. The drivers can also find available jobs and can also view accepted jobs, chat with the customers and even charge customers.

 

LetsNurture

The Limo rental app with LetsNurture comes up with one time registration that leads the customers to reserve the cars according to the occasion. The features of the app developed includes Vehicle selection along with respective rate cards, Use of Promo Code when available, choice of on-drive services which includes- choice of drinks, reading and Wi-Fi, Push Notifications for the users, both Cash and Card payment methods, tracking details of the ride and rating/reviewing the app as well as the rides. Moreover, you can also develop your own customized app for your Limousine rental business.

Are you owning a limousine company and need a mobile app to compete? Get a quote now.

Impact of Mobile Apps in Travel Industry

Traveling is shrinking among all ages. The report says that traveling has witnessed one of the most burgeoning industries in 2016 and beyond. The era of the smartphone has given unprecedented rise to access the vital information to enrich the travel experience. It has been found that the growth of travel apps usage is resulted to give a new shape to the travel industry.

Travel companies are maximizing their best potential to attract travelers through personalized services. With the advancement in technology, solutions integrating the mobile apps gives the users instant information through message alerts or even chats with the customer representatives. Marketers are tracking the peculiar behavior exhibited by customers whilst browsing through the travel apps or website.

Get Customized services

The travel industries are exploring the engaging ways and mediums to connect with the customers while they are on move. They are expecting the customer needs to improve their services with the help of travel apps. For example, offering some of the best discount rates for any travel purchases like hotel accommodation, airline booking etc.

In Short, it is about offering the customers more before they ask for through strong connectivity. It is about the mad race to target sequentially ever precise need of travelers. Travel app development has become one of the best media to target and engage the target audiences in the travel industry.

Build a bond

People want their travel experience to be a hassle free one. By selecting a right package for your travel, they like it have customized options to match their specific needs. They give message alerts or notifications to make everything easy for the customer. Every people use smartphones in this tech era, and thus travel agencies connect and engage them in improving their travel experience.

Never Ending Experience

Customers nowadays have become excessively friendly with the travel apps to come up with their needs. Travel companies are providing an easy way to the intense travelers. Travel app development makes easy for the travelers to find the attractive traveling packages for themselves.

They can even browse through travel packages, airline tickets, car rentals, hotel booking etc. Even the travel companies can escalate the best travel experience with their apps. It can help customers to plan for their next sojourn.

Offers and Rewards

There is fleet of companies offering irresistible offers to grab the attention of the customers. Online travel agencies even do the same to lure the customers to their travel services, no matter it is discounted air travel or affordable accommodations. The travel companies are making use of their travel apps to provide best offers, discounts to the customers.

There are many benefits for the travel companies by adding more value to their mobile applications. Instead of reducing the travel expenses, it is better to explore through exclusive discounts to enjoy the complete travel experience.

LetsNurture has specialization in integrating effective business solutions for The Web and Mobile platforms. In the domain of travel app development, the experience lies in delivering successful results in the form of travel booking app, incorporating the requirements of Online Travel Agencies, Resellers. Travel App Development is also good for Rail and Airlines, Car Rentals and others in the Travel sector.

If you have any inquiry regarding travel app development to have your own customized travel app, do get in touch and share your requirement today.

iOS 10 ready to bring changes for iPhone App Development

Apple iOS - the biggest update for iPhone application development was announced at WWDC 2016 in San Francisco on 13 June 2016. Before its inception on 13th September, Apple went on to roll out the series of beta versions of iOS 10. It was offered free to the owners of iPhone 5 and later, iPad mini 2 and later, and the iPad 4, iPad Air and iPad Pro models. And currently, the company is providing more control to iPhone and iPad owners over the software with iOS 10.

Yes, that was the big one. With the arrival of latest update in OS from Apple adjoins two newer OS - tvOS 20 and WatchOS 3. Before iOS 10 was launched, iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 plus was triggered in the iPhone industry. Since Apple is interested in quick advancement, it has leverages its iOS frameworks and other services to be modified. These updations has allowed the developers to develop large scale of iPhone based products that made its compatibility with other Apple family products.

Apple iOS 10 is designed for the holders of iPhone 5 and later devices. Users can manually trigger the update by following settings -> General -> Software Update. The size of the update varies as per the device, but the iOS 10 has the size in between 600 MB to 1.2 GB.

Devices supporting iOS 10

• iPhone – 5, 5s, 5c, 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, iPhone SE
• Ipad - iPad mini, mini 2, mini 3, mini 4, iPad 2, 3rd gen, 4th gen, Air, Air 2, Pro 12.9-inch, Pro 9.7-inch 
• Ipod touch 6th generation.

How iOS 10 updates can help you with the development application?

The updated features of iOS 10 that includes facial recognition, typing with Siri, Siri SDK to integrate into the applications, responsive push notifications and 3d response and much more, has made a great impact for the iPhone app development.

These upgraded features contribute greatly to the development of the exceptional iOS applications. iPhone app developers must understand the updates and examine in the way adopted to integrate in your iPhone application development.

As far as notifications update is concerned for iOS 10 then, you should consider some points like you need to enable actions like answering to the missed calls, postponing the invitation etc., creating customized notification sound, leveraging the delete option that helps the user to delete unavoidable events or even pop-ups.

As far as speech recognition is concerned, you can consider internet connectivity to be mandatory, no access to personal data and information like passwords, personal data, credit card securities etc.

A collection of different features are available to the iPhone application. Even voicemail transcription can help you with spammers. This could open the new opportunity for choosing the default apps for maps, email, music and much more. It was actually a great surprise announced by WWDC 2016, still there are lot many things in waiting this year for your business application development.

Final Verdict

Updating your smartphone device to the new OS is advised because of the benefits it comes with.  The new operating system consumes less space and also advances the battery life having features of battery saving. iOS 10 is the biggest move taken by the Apple.

If you have any idea or you are in need to develop your business application that is compatible with iOS 10, then we are you all set to help you. Hire best iOS app developers of LetsNurture and develop best business app for your enterprise. Contact us for details.

Android App Development - Rising Trend in Mobile Industry

Android is most popular innovation of Google and well known platform for mobile application development. It is easy and accompanies easy access too easy to get a grip and the adaptability has made android the top choice. It has simple to use capacities and features, that even a startups can find it easy without any stress of the components of advanced mobile phone. Android being an inventive OS framework is giving new wings to the development companies from different spaces to get their android apps developed.

Android is one of the most popular software tools for mobile app development companies nowadays. According to recent survey, Google is activating more than 700,000 smartphones and tablet on the daily basis, so that we can visualize huge demand of android OS in the market. More than 400K android applications are available today in the android marketplace and the most attracting things are that millions of apps are available free. Android posses a strong hold in the market and if it continues to be flourishing and the day is not far when the apple would be left behind android.

Android offers number of advantages for the app developers. Android is an open source and is easy to handle features, this gives xrs a unique experience to work with. Android, being an open source platform gives an ease to android programmers to develop and modify android apps. Android OS is flexible to use and it is based on Linux kernel and can be written in many languages, frameworks that includes xml, java/Ajax, C, C++ etc. It is easy for the developers who have experience in working with C and C++.

The android application development was first introduced in 2008 and in these few months it has started to give tough competition to a huge smartphone manufacturer Apple. More and more smart phone and tablet manufacturers are developing smartphones and tablets using android operating system. Samsung, Motorola, Sony, HTC are some of the manufacturing companies, having chosen android as the preferred Operating system to build new devices.

Android application development is one of the rising and growing trend in the industry of mobile. App development business can be proved to be quite profitable. If you have any idea for the app development and you think that it really flourishes the market, then one must go for the android app development as Google allows to upload their application on android market for free. If you are in need to hire android app development company, LetsNurture has an exposure for developing android application for the varied industry verticals. So there is a great opportunity for you to earn from this growing industry.

At, LetsNurture we have a team of in-house experts for android and mobile app development for all major platforms. You can cater all your technological requirements. Moreover we even provide exclusive solutions to our clients. If you have similar requirements, feel free to get a quote from our experts.

Mobile Application development for Salon Business

Making a last-minute salon appointment is something dreadful, especially when you have lots of appointments are there to handle. You want your salon business to be ahead of the curve. Having salon app development company can help your salon business in lot number of ways. If you are an owner of your salon business, have you ever had an idea about apps for your salon can help your business grow. You can customize your own salon app in ways that it appeals and attracts your target audience.

You want your salon application to attract both women and men. With the help of salon appointment app, you can showcase all your services within one. You can give them the reasons through app, they come through. Make your salon app easy for your audience to engage. 

Mobile devices are handy and is been seen with each and every person. Consumers look up local for salon businesses, when in need and those with salon-friendly apps are gaining those customers as loyal and repeated clients.

How we help you with the best apps for Salon for your business?

Increase in ROI: When you invest dollars for your business can be the biggest challenge for your business. Having a salon app is helps to increase your client base, encourage repeat customers and also increase sales. But how? Let's see in other points.

Convenience for Clients: Convenience play a crucial factor for any person these days. Your salon should be just a click away for your clients every time - website, directions, phone number, specials, services, gift cards, attractive photos, events and much more.

Updated Information: You can easily share your updates, new promos, trends, local events, tips and news offers with your clients with the help of push notifications.

Marketing Strategy: Salon app development can be proved to be most effective marketing strategy than traditional advertising like flyer, print ads or radio spot etc.

Loyalty: You can customize your salon app, so that you can send the loyalty rewards and also check-in incentives for salon. You can keep track of your loyal customers and new clients coming back with different customer rewards with help of your salon application.

Sharing: When someone asks your client about their stylist, they can simply share salon mobile app. It can be easily set up to share your post on Facebook or twitter in sharing your salon business and making it viral to reach the larger audience.

Advantages over Competitors: Consumers interacting with businesses not offering solution often become frustrated and follow the business where they find easier to navigate with the help of mobile. This could be an advantage for your salon business by using apps for your salon.

Stay Relevant: Your job is not done only after the development of your salon app. Since, this is the era of smartphone, apps for salon are an intrical part of businesses and is about to be something where customer can rely upon.

Get the Best Solution

If you own a beauty salon business, just get a quote from our experts and send us your requirements for your application. We take care of all of this for you and the best part is, as a salon app development company we keep the complete experience customized for you and your customers. So regardless of adding all the things, we keep you forth to include as many features you think is important for your customers to connect with you.